Stories Behind the Songs

In Episode 161 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter and Southern rock/country artist CJ Solar. Growing up in Louisiana, CJ started playing guitar at seven in a family band with his two younger brothers, a group that eventually "fired" their dad. A family trip to the Grand Ole Opry, where he watched Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley, helped turn his sights toward Nashville, and he later enrolled at Belmont University. CJ tells how a last-semester internship turned into his first publishing deal. A neighbor who had just left Universal for Sea Gayle Music got him in the door, and about a week later Creative VP Mike Owens asked to hear his songs. CJ handed him a burned CD of the only seven demos he had. Owens played the whole disc, passed it to Chris DuBois and the other writers, and by the next week Sea Gayle had offered him a deal. One of the songs on that disc, "Blue Bandana," became his first cut and a single for Jerrod Niemann, then got pulled around No. 31 after a label regime change. CJ also shares the story behind Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line's No. 1 "Up Down," written with HARDY and Brad Clawson. HARDY brought in the title "we live it up down here," they played on the double meaning, and a favorite line, "Free Bird five minutes deep," came from their love of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The same week the song went No. 1, CJ opened for Skynyrd and got to hang with Gary Rossington and Ricky Medlocke. He closes the "Up Down" section with a live performance in the studio, riff and all, including a little "Free Bird." Chris and CJ also talk about The Listening Room's 20th anniversary show at the Ryman, which closed with HARDY and the writers singing "Up Down," and about CJ's new album Black Label Blues, released November 6, 2026. He cut it live, with no click track, at Ricky Skaggs' place in Hendersonville with players including Steve Gorman, formerly of The Black Crowes, JD Simo and Rick Huckabee. He also offers advice for writers moving to Nashville, and Chris congratulates him on getting married just before the taping. Songs discussedUp Down (Morgan Wallen feat. Florida Georgia Line)Blue Bandana (Jerrod Niemann)Black Label Blues (CJ Solar and the Old Souls) Follow CJ Solarcjsolar.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Apple Music Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 160 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Kent Blazy for a second conversation. Kent has played The Listening Room since day one, and he has seven No. 1 hits to his name, including Garth Brooks' first, "If Tomorrow Never Comes." Kent tells the story behind "Somewhere Other Than the Night," his second No. 1 with Garth. It started on a day when nothing was working, so they quit writing and threw a frisbee for Garth's Labrador for hours. Then the song showed up: a rancher who has been neglecting his wife, an apron that won out over a much stranger idea, and the reason Garth wanted the word "damn" in it twice. He also revisits "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" with Cory Batten and Chris Young, including the night Chris Blair borrowed a black dress and walked on stage during Cory's Listening Room show. Kent shares how far ahead Garth thinks, from predicting "If Tomorrow Never Comes" would go to No. 1 to rebuilding a fireplace on his wedding day, plus writing Diamond Rio's "That's What I Get for Lovin' You" with Neil Thrasher and playing electric guitar with the band on the Opry stage. Kent and Chris also talk about how Music Row has changed, from the end of CDs to the pressure young artists feel to post constantly, and why Kent believes "we were here at the best time." He closes the episode with a live acoustic performance of "Somewhere Other Than the Night." Songs discussedSomewhere Other Than the Night (Garth Brooks; Kent Blazy's version from Me & Garth)Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song) (Chris Young)That's What I Get for Lovin' You (Diamond Rio)Calling All Hearts (Come Back Home) (Diamond Rio)If Tomorrow Never Comes (Garth Brooks; Kent Blazy's version from Me & Garth)Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up) (Garth Brooks; Kent Blazy's version from Me & Garth) Follow Kent Blazykentblazy.com | Instagram | Facebook | Apple Music Also mentionedKent's first visit: Episode 11, Kent Blazy: Songs for Garth Brooks, Chris Young & more! Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 159 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Grammy-nominated songwriter Parker Welling. Parker is a writer behind billions of streams and multiple No. 1 hits, and her story is a lesson in patience. A song can feel like magic in the room and still take years to become a “sure thing.” Parker unpacks what actually happens between the first idea and the moment a crowd sings every word back to you. We go deep on the story behind Russell Dickerson’s “Yours,” including the lyrical doorway that made everything click (“Thank God I’m yours”), the decision to take extra days to get the chorus right, and the wild release journey: viral momentum, industry limbo, and a radio climb that took about 56 weeks to reach the top. Parker shares how she learned to recognize the “spark” some songs carry, why patience beats panic, and how celebrating small milestones keeps you going when the finish line is far away. Then we shift into “Blue Tacoma,” a song that started as a breakup memory on an old laptop and became a vivid West Coast love story once the perspective changed. Along the way, Parker opens up about a devastating vocal injury that forced long stretches of silence and unexpectedly sharpened her listening, her lyric instincts, and her relationship with music. We also talk parenthood, creative community, and her new podcast Women’s Writes with Lydia Vaughan, built to spotlight powerful songwriting collaborations, especially among women in country music. Songs discussedYours (Russell Dickerson)Blue Tacoma (Russell Dickerson) Follow Parker WellingInstagram Also mentionedRussell Dickerson | Lydia Vaughan | Women's Writes on YouTube Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 158 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Summer Overstreet. The daughter of legendary writer Paul Overstreet, Summer has songs recorded by Lainey Wilson, Tucker Wetmore, Hudson Westbrook, Max McNown, Jake Owen, and more, and she calls The Listening Room her all-time favorite place to play. A hit song can feel inevitable when you hear it on the radio, but the path to that moment is usually messy, slow, and full of near misses. Summer unpacks what it really takes to build a lasting career in Nashville songwriting, from the early days of trying to earn your seat in the room to the surreal calm that hits after your first No 1. Summer grew up around legendary writers through her dad, Paul Overstreet, and she shares what “music osmosis” looks like when demos are playing in the house before they become classics. We talk about how her relationship with country music changed over time, how she started writing (including hiding in a closet for privacy), and what it feels like to watch a song you believed in finally move through the pipeline. She also tells the story behind “Phone Keys Wallet,” including how the track got tailored for the artist and how a dream collaboration became real. Then we go deep on “3,2,1,” her first number one, co-written with Jordan Reynolds and Josh Miller and later cut by Tucker Wetmore. You’ll hear how the title sparked the write, why the session felt effortless, and why the song still had to sit for months before the right moment arrived. We also get honest about the modern music industry: streaming and DSP economics, TikTok and social media pressure, follower based gatekeeping, and the resilience it takes to keep making great work when the rules keep changing. Songs discussed3,2,1 (Tucker Wetmore)Phone, Keys, Wallet (Lainey Wilson & John Mayer) Follow Summer OverstreetApple Music Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 157 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Billy Montana for part two of their conversation. This time the focus is "More Than a Memory," which Billy wrote with Kyle Jacobs and Lee Brice, and which Garth Brooks took into the history books. A country song debuts at number one and the writer’s first reaction is, “How is that possible?” That’s where Chris and Billy start as they unpack the story behind “More Than a Memory,” the Garth Brooks comeback single that became the first-ever #1 debut in Billboard country chart history. We talk through what the rollout looked like from the inside: the built-up anticipation at country radio, major market stations hammering the record, and the strange feeling of celebrating a chart moment that Billy still wants to know is “legit.” Billy shares what Garth said at the number one party, why the song then had to “prove” itself with real listeners, and how it dropped and climbed in a way that still kept it in the top ten. Along the way, Chris and Billy talk about why a hit still has to prove itself with real listeners after the headlines fade, and Billy reflects on what it means to keep coming back to The Listening Room stage. Follow Billy MontanaWebsite Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 156 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with legendary songwriter Billy Montana. Billy has written for Garth Brooks, Sara Evans, Lee Brice, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, and Jon Pardi, and this is part one of a two-part conversation. A hit song can be obvious to listeners and still be one decision away from disappearing. We trace the unlikely chain of moments that turned “Suds in the Bucket” into Sara Evans’ chart-topping country anthem. Billy shares his road from upstate New York to a Warner Bros deal, the choice to protect his family from the risk of moving too soon, and the way that early “artist” chapter became a hands-on education in co-writing rooms, publishing, and how songs actually get made. Then we go line-by-line on the songwriting process behind “Suds in the Bucket” and why it worked: starting with a concept instead of a title, letting the hook “fall out of the sky,” leaning into authentic language like “growed up,” and getting a crucial publisher note that reshaped the choruses. You’ll also hear the behind-the-scenes pitching path, the label pushback that nearly buried the track, and the artist advocacy that saved it, plus Billy’s live performance of the song. Songs discussedSuds In the Bucket (Sara Evans) Follow Billy MontanaWebsite Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 155 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with CMA, ACM, and Grammy-nominated songwriter Bobby Tomberlin. A staff writer with Curb for more than 30 years, Bobby has songs recorded by Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Barbra Streisand, Faith Hill, Josh Turner, and Kenny Rogers. Today he takes us inside Diamond Rio's No. 1 "One More Day," 25 years after its release. We get into the nuts and bolts of the songwriting process and the business realities behind a hit. Bobby also shares what it feels like when a song flips your career overnight, from struggling for appointments to Grammy nominations, and how listeners’ letters and emails can hit harder than any award. Then the story turns heavier and more human. Bobby talks about the song’s second life after 9/11, why keeping the lyric universal was a blessing, and how “One More Day” became a tool for healing at memorial services and in private grief. We also talk about his memoir I’ve Lived Country Music and the advice he’d give his younger self: don’t let chart positions become your god, and measure success by the life you get to live. Songs discussedOne More Day (Diamond Rio) Follow Bobby TomberlinWebsite | I've Lived Country Music (memoir) | Spotify Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 154 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Liz Rose Music songwriter and producer Joe Fox. His songs have been recorded by Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Mitchell Tenpenny, and more, and today he takes us inside his first No. 1 as a songwriter. Joe unpacks the story behind Jon Pardi’s hit “Last Night Lonely.” He walks us through the song’s origin, the initial idea, the co-writing session dynamics, and the moments in the room that turned a simple phrase into a radio-ready chorus. We dive into songwriting craft: melody choices, lyrical turns, and how the arrangement and production decisions shaped the song’s emotional core. The song started on a low-pressure day with friends, including Dylan Marlowe, when Joe picked up a baritone electric guitar and built a four-bar loop. They sang melodies over it until the words found them, an "LA-style" write that Joe says is not how they usually work. From there, Joe tells how a text from a bar got the song to Jon Pardi's camp, how the news of the cut landed while the writers were headed to a Colorado writing retreat, and what it felt like to finally have a single eight years after moving to town. It became the first number one for all of them, and it went platinum. Joe also plays the song and leaves aspiring writers with simple advice: don't give up, and know it will be slower than you think. Songs discussedLast Night Lonely (Jon Pardi) Follow Joe FoxBio at Liz Rose Music Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 153 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter and producer Dallas Wilson. Dallas grew up in a true Music City household with a studio in the house, and it shows in every song he writes. A hit song can start as a title scribbled in your notes app, a half-sung voice memo, or a joke on a tour bus that somehow turns into John Mayer actually playing on the record. We talk about Dallas Wilson's rare upbringing in a true Music City household, with a home studio, touring stories, and an early education from watching elite session musicians create parts in real time. That foundation leads into how he finds his lane as a songwriter, why co-writing becomes the most fun and productive version of the process, and how learning Pro Tools and production skills can help a song move faster from idea to demo to cut. Dallas then takes us behind two defining songs: Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like a Truck” and Dylan Scott’s “Nobody”. You’ll hear how “Heart Like a Truck” shifted from a rockier start into something more honest during the pandemic, how one extra bridge line got rewritten while vocals were being cut, and why chord choices can lift a song to another level. And on “Nobody”, Dallas shares the moment the hook arrived, why Dylan knew it was “the one”, and how long it can take for a great song to finally reach No. 1. Songs discussedHeart Like a Truck (Lainey Wilson)Nobody (Dylan Scott)Phone, Keys, Wallet (Lainey Wilson & John Mayer) Follow Dallas WilsonBio at Songwriters in Concert Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

In Episode 152 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Seth Ennis. Seth has written for Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Dylan Scott, Little Big Town, Jordan Davis, and The Band CAMINO, and he is raising two daughters under five while doing it. Join us for an intimate conversation with singer-songwriter Seth Ennis as he recounts his transition from touring artist to full-time songwriter. Seth discusses how he made the shift, how writing for other voices changed his creative process, and the range of artists and genres he’s collaborated with. He shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes about songs that took unexpected turns, how he tailors material for different performers, and the techniques he uses to stay inspired. Seth will also play a portion of “Boys Back Home,” which recently went platinum. On the personal side, we dig into how he balances a demanding writing schedule with family life, the routines and boundaries that keep him grounded, and what continues to fuel his creativity. Seth tells how a buddy introduced him to The Band CAMINO back when they were still in Memphis, which led to "Daphne Blue." He explains how "Boys Back Home" came together in about two hours with Dylan Marlowe, two South Georgia boys writing about home, before a viral post helped push it to platinum. And he shares how the write behind "Amen" for Shaboozey and Jelly Roll almost fell apart before his publisher brought in another writer, and why the lesson is to always show up and bring your best. He is also honest about the slumps every writer hits and the advice that gets him through them: keep showing up. Songs discussedBoys Back Home (Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott)Amen (Shaboozey & Jelly Roll)Daphne Blue (The Band CAMINO) Follow Seth EnnisApple Music Watch and listenWatch on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links Follow Stories Behind the SongsInstagram @sbtsongs | TikTok @sbtsongs | YouTube @SBTSongsChris Blair: Instagram @chrisblairmusic | chrisblair.com The Listening Roomlisteningroomcafe.com | Instagram @listeningroomcafe | TikTok @thelisteningroomcafeSail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.